Mumbai: The Hindi film industry came together on Wednesday to bid farewell to filmmaker Kuku Kohli, who died in Mumbai at the age of 77. The director, best known for launching Ajay Devgn with ‘Phool Aur Kaante’, was cremated at Oshiwara crematorium on August 26.

Kohli’s wife, veteran actor Aruna Irani, was among those present at the funeral. She appeared visibly devastated and was accompanied by family members as she arrived at the crematorium.

Several members of the film fraternity also came to pay their final respects, including Katrina Kaif, Vicky Kaushal and his father, action director Sham Kaushal. Rohit Shetty, Raza Murad, Javed Akhtar, Shabana Azmi, Tiku Talsania, Sharvari, Tej Sapru, Kiran Juneja, Ashoke Pandit, Rajat Bedi, Gajendra Chauhan and Deepak Parashar were also among those spotted at the funeral.

Kuku Kohli’s final hours

Kohli died on August 25 after suffering a massive cardiac arrest at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Mumbai.

According to details shared by Aruna Irani’s spokesperson, the filmmaker had begun feeling unwell on Monday night and suffered a mild heart attack. He was taken to hospital, where he underwent angioplasty and initially appeared to be stable. His condition, however, suddenly worsened the following evening. He suffered another cardiac arrest at around 5.15 pm and could not be revived.

His death came as a shock to colleagues and friends, with filmmaker Ashoke Pandit describing him as being in good health before the sudden cardiac event.

The filmmaker who gave Ajay Devgn his first big break

Kuku Kohli’s name remains closely linked with ‘Phool Aur Kaante’, the 1991 film that introduced Ajay Devgn as a leading man. The action drama became a commercial success and helped launch Devgn’s long-running career in Hindi cinema. Madhoo also made her Hindi film debut with the movie, which featured Aruna Irani, Amrish Puri and Jagdeep.

Devgn remembered Kohli on Wednesday, thanking the filmmaker for believing in him at the beginning of his career.

Kohli later worked with Devgn again in ‘Suhaag’, the 1994 action film that also starred Akshay Kumar, Karisma Kapoor and Nagma. His other directorial credits included ‘Haqeeqat’, ‘Zulmi’, ‘Anari No. 1’ and ‘Yeh Dil Aashiqanaa’. His last film as a director was ‘Woh Tera Naam Tha’, released in 2004.

Before becoming a director, he worked with Raj Kapoor

Kohli’s career in the industry began long before he stepped into the director’s chair. He worked under legendary filmmaker Raj Kapoor for several years and was associated with films including ‘Bobby’, ‘Prem Rog’ and ‘Satyam Shivam Sundaram’.

He later worked with Rahul Rawail as a second-unit director on films including ‘Betaab’ and ‘Arjun’. Those years gave him experience across different aspects of filmmaking before he eventually moved into direction.

Kuku Kohli and Aruna Irani

Kohli and Aruna Irani got married in 1990. It was his second marriage. He was previously married to Rita Kohli, with whom he had two daughters, Pooja and Karishma.

Kohli and Irani did not have children together. He is survived by Irani and his two daughters from his first marriage.

At his funeral, Irani was seen surrounded by family members as colleagues and friends from the film industry gathered to remember the filmmaker.